CLEMSON, S.C. – Returning to the Upstate of South Carolina to complete the backend of a two-game stretch against Atlantic Coast Conference foes, USC Upstate men's basketball showed grit as it battled back against Clemson in an 81-70 setback Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.
 
Spurring Upstate's comeback bid and keeping the Spartans' deficit to fewer than 20 points, three players posted career-high scoring totals as each scored in double-figures. Dropping a game-high 24 points, sophomore guard Jordan Gainey tied his career-high as he led all scorers. Gainey's scoring total against the Tigers stands as his best total against a Power-Five opponent in his career while marking his 27^th career double-figure scoring game and sixth scoring 20 or more points.
 
Joining Gainey in double-figures and with career-highs were redshirt sophomore guard Trae Broadnax and freshman guard Justin Bailey who added 16 and 15 points, respectively. For Broadnax, Tuesday's game was the first double-figure game of his career while for Bailey, he's scored 10 or more points in each of his first three career games.
 
Game Information
Score: Clemson 81; USC Upstate 70
Records: USC Upstate (1-2); Clemson (2-1)
Location: Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Seeing Clemson jump out to an early lead with a field goal on its first possession, the Spartans immediately answered back as Jordan Gainey scored the first of his 24 points as he hit the offensive glass for a second-chance layup.
• Heading into the first media stoppage of the game, Clemson's Chase Hunter fashioned a 5-0 scoring run before the stretch was snapped by a pair of Gainey free throws. Seeing the Tiger lead grow with a pair of free throws out of the media timeout, Upstate began to chip away as Ahmir Langlais hit a layup and Jordyn Surratt knocked down a three to pull the Spartans within two.
• With the lead sitting at a single possession, Clemson added some distance with an 8-0 scoring run, its largest of the game to grow the lead to double digits. Gainey snapped the run with a paint jumper before the Tigers started a 5-0 scoring stretch, a stretch ended by a Justin Bailey trey.
• Chipping away at a double-digit lead for the Tigers over the final four minutes of the first half, the Spartans crafted their longest scoring streak of the half with a 5-0 spurt featuring a pair of Khydarius Smith free throws and another Bailey triple.

 
Second Half

• Out of the halftime locker room, the Tigers started the second half on a 6-2 scoring stretch that forced a USC Upstate timeout. Out of the timeout, Bailey was rewarded for hitting the offensive glass as he took a pass from Trae Broadnax and hit a second-chance three—his third three-pointer of the game.
• Following Bailey's three-pointer, Upstate and Clemson began trading baskets over the next six minutes of game action. For the Spartans, Broadnax led with six points in the stretch with Gainey adding a three and Bailey a layup.
• Growing its lead to 19 points—the largest of the game—Clemson used its longest scoring run of the second half, seven points, to extend the lead. Snapping the scoring run, Upstate used one of its two longest scoring runs—six points—to chip away as Bailey, Broadnax, and Gainey each scored in the run.
• With the lead ballooning back to 18 points, the Spartans brought things back once again using a 6-0 scoring run as an Ahmir Langlais dunk and four consecutive Broadnax points comprised the run. Upstate closed the game on an 8-1 scoring run to draw the final deficit to 11 points.

 
Notable

• As part of his career-high-tying 24 points—his sixth career 20-plus point game—Jordan Gainey scored 15 of his 24 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Of his 15 first-half points, six came from the free throw line as he finished the half 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
• Leading to his career-high scoring total, Trae Broadnax scored all 16 of his points in the second half of Tuesday's game. In the second half, he finished 5-of-5 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
• Improving his career-high scoring total for the third time in as many games to start his career, Justin Bailey's 15 points versus Clemson marked his third career double-figure scoring game. Bailey joins Everette Hammond (2018-19) as the only freshman under head coach Dave Dickerson to score 10 or more points in each of his first three games in a Spartan uniform.

 
UP Next for the Spartans
Upon concluding their two-game road swing against ACC opponents, the Spartans return home Friday for the first game of the Collegiate Hoops Roadshow—a multi-team event produced by Russ Potts Productions, Inc. Upstate hosts Coastal Carolina to open the MTE with the game featuring a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off as part of a Spartan basketball doubleheader.
 
JOIN UP
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes!  Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN
USC Upstate men's basketball has sold out two of its last three home games dating back to the 2021-22 season, including this season's home opener on November 7. USC Upstate is offering a variety of ways for fans to watch Upstate Basketball this season! Tickets can be purchased through ticketreturn.com and options include courtside seats, season packages, two new mini-plan offerings, group packages, and individual game tickets. Click here to order your tickets.
 
Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter: @UpstateMBB
Instagram: @upstatespartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans